Intervarsity Staff: Faith Requirements And Signatures

In 2016, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, one of the largest evangelical college groups in the country, announced that it would dismiss employees who personally supported gay marriage or disagreed with its stance on sexuality. This decision sparked controversy, particularly among LGBTQ Christians and their supporters. While staffers were not mandated to sign a document agreeing with the group's stance, they were expected to voluntarily disclose any disagreements, which would result in their termination. This case raises questions about the intersection of employment law and religious freedom, with legal precedents indicating that religious organizations can require employees to sign statements of faith without violating federal laws prohibiting religious discrimination.

InterVarsity staff are not required to sign a document agreeing with the group's position on sexuality

In 2016, InterVarsity clarified its requirements for staff, stating that they must affirm the traditional, orthodox views of sexuality that are shared by most evangelical denominations. This means that staff are expected to uphold the belief that any sexual activity outside of a heterosexual marriage is immoral.

While this change in policy has sparked controversy, particularly among LGBTQ Christians and their supporters, it is important to note that InterVarsity staff are not required to sign a document agreeing with the group's position on sexuality. Instead, they are asked to voluntarily come forward if they disagree with the theological position. This self-identification process is designed to maintain integrity within the organization. Once a staff member informs their supervisor of their disagreement, a two-week period is triggered, culminating in their last day of employment.

InterVarsity has offered support to departing staff, covering outplacement service costs for one month to assist with résumé preparation and job search strategies. This process is considered an "involuntary termination" due to misalignment with InterVarsity's ministry principles. The organization categorizes these departures separately from typical firings, recognizing the unique nature of these departures due to theological differences.

While staff are not mandated to sign a document, they are expected to refrain from publicly sharing views that contradict InterVarsity's positions. This expectation of consistency in public statements aims to maintain cohesion within the organization. The absence of a signed document as a requirement may be attributed to the nature of InterVarsity as an interdenominational organization, allowing for some flexibility in individual interpretations while upholding core evangelical beliefs.

Staff are asked to voluntarily come forward if they disagree with the theological position

In 2016, InterVarsity clarified its requirements for staff, asking that they affirm traditional, orthodox views of sexuality that are shared by most evangelical denominations. While staffers are not being required to sign a document agreeing with the group’s position, and supervisors are not proactively asking employees to verbally affirm it, they are being asked to voluntarily come forward if they disagree with the theological position. This means that if they inform their supervisor of their disagreement, a two-week period is triggered, concluding in their last day. InterVarsity has offered to cover outplacement service costs for one month after employment ends to help dismissed staff with their résumés and job-search strategies.

InterVarsity's theological position is outlined in an internal 20-page paper, which includes injunctions against divorce and sex before marriage. However, the practical application of the study focused on implications for the LGBTQ community. The paper states that "Scripture is very clear that God’s intention for sexual expression is to be between a husband and a wife in marriage. Every other sexual practice is outside of God’s plan and therefore is a distortion of God’s loving design for humanity.".

InterVarsity's decision to ask staff to voluntarily come forward if they disagree with the theological position has prompted controversy, especially from LGBTQ Christians and their supporters. Some staff members who support gay marriage or disagree with the organization's positions on sexuality have chosen to leave, while others have formed an anonymous queer collective to organize on behalf of staff, students, and alumni who felt unsafe under the new policy.

The organization's decision also has potential implications for its presence on college campuses. One former staff member expressed concern that InterVarsity could be kicked off campus due to its stance on LGBTQ issues, particularly at schools with inclusive policies. However, InterVarsity's director of campus engagement, Greg Jao, has stated that the organization's views are not new and expressed hope that universities would continue to welcome InterVarsity as they have in the past.

InterVarsity has clarified its requirements for staff, asking that they affirm traditional, orthodox views of sexuality

In 2016, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, an evangelical Christian student movement with affiliate groups on university campuses in the US, clarified its requirements for staff, asking that they affirm traditional, orthodox views of sexuality. This came in the form of a twenty-page document that affirms the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament sexual ethic that limits sexual expression to marriage between a man and a woman. Staff were not asked to sign this document, but instead, to disclose any conflicts and leave the organisation.

InterVarsity's reiteration of its position on biblical sexuality is primarily theological in nature. The organisation invited all employees to take 18 months to work through a nine-part curriculum, read a variety of resources, and study the relevant biblical texts to conclude whether they agreed with InterVarsity's unchanged position. According to Greg Jao, InterVarsity vice president and director of campus engagement, "We're trusting their integrity that they'll resign rather than continue to work with an organisation that disagrees with them."

InterVarsity's position on human sexuality has not changed in its 75-year history. Jao further stated that "We have always expected employees to reflect the ministry's theological beliefs, as would be true for any church, synagogue, mosque, or religious organisation." InterVarsity's focus is on ensuring its own theological consistency with its core beliefs.

This change in policy has prompted controversy, especially from LGBTQ Christians and their supporters. InterVarsity has responded by stating that it strives to "be a community of grace toward people with all kinds of attractions" and runs campus chapters for LGBTQ students and allies. The organisation also continues to employ individuals who have an LGBTQ identity and who affirm its theological beliefs around human sexuality.

Staff are asked to affirm a twenty-page document that affirms the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament sexual ethic

In 2016, InterVarsity clarified its requirements for staff, asking that they affirm traditional, orthodox views of sexuality that are shared by most evangelical denominations. Staff are asked to affirm a twenty-page document that affirms the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament sexual ethic. This document outlines InterVarsity's stance on human sexuality, stating that any sexual activity outside of a heterosexual marriage is immoral. This includes prohibitions on divorce, sex before marriage, pornography, cohabitation, and sexual abuse. While staffers are not required to sign this document, they are expected to voluntarily come forward if they disagree with its theological position. In doing so, they trigger a two-week period leading up to their last day of employment.

This change in policy has sparked controversy, particularly among LGBTQ Christians and their supporters. Some staff members have chosen to leave the organization rather than affirm the document, and an anonymous queer collective has been formed by staff, students, and alumni who feel unsafe under the new policy. They have presented dozens of stories of individuals in InterVarsity programs to the national leadership, but feel that their concerns have been dismissed.

Despite the controversy, InterVarsity maintains that its views are not new and that the document was intended to clarify its understanding of Scripture, especially in response to requests from students. The organization also emphasizes that LGBTQ individuals can remain on staff if they remain celibate and affirm the position paper, and that LGBTQ students are still welcome in campus groups.

The impact of this decision extends beyond InterVarsity's campus ministry. InterVarsity Press, a prominent evangelical publisher, has affirmed that its employment policies align with those of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. However, it is unclear how this will affect the authors they publish, as they are not required to sign an affirmation of InterVarsity's theological summary on human sexuality.

The move by InterVarsity reflects a trend towards stricter orthodoxy in evangelical circles and has sparked discussions about the role of religious organizations in society and the intersection of employment law with the First Amendment, which protects the free exercise of religion.

InterVarsity is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA (IVCF) is an evangelical Christian student movement with affiliate groups on university campuses across the United States. It is a member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. InterVarsity is governed by a board of directors and is a tax-exempt organisation. In the fiscal year ending 30 June 2018, InterVarsity had $107 million in revenue, with over 70% coming from charitable donations.

InterVarsity uses more than 85% of its revenue for staff-worker salaries and other on-campus work. InterVarsity was rated 4 stars out of 4 by Charity Navigator for eight straight years, from which it slipped to a 3-star rating in 2019. However, InterVarsity continued to maintain a 100% score in Accountability and Transparency. InterVarsity strives to maintain the highest level of accountability with its ministry partners and is also rated by sites such as Guidestar and MinistryWatch. As of 2018, InterVarsity met 18 of the 20 Better Business Bureau's "Standards for Charity Accountability".

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